New Israel housing minister pledges more settlement building

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

New Israel housing minister pledges more settlement building

JERUSALEM | Sun Mar 17, 2013 6:47pm EDT

(Reuters) - Israel's new housing minister said on Sunday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's incoming cabinet would keep expanding Jewish settlements to the same extent as his previous government.

The remarks came two days ahead of a visit by U.S. President Barack Obama who has urged Israel to halt settlement on land that Palestinians seek for a state. They suggested that Netanyahu's new cabinet could prove to be as hawkish as his outgoing coalition.

Housing Minister Uri Ariel, a Jewish settler and member of the pro-settler Jewish Home party, said in a television interview that in occupied territory "building will continue in accordance with what the government's policy has been thus far."

Using the biblical names for the territory Israel captured in a 1967 war, Ariel told Israel's Channel 10 television the government "will build in Judea and Samaria more or less as it has done previously. I see no reason to change it."

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/17/us-israel-settlements-idUSBRE92G0K220130317

[delrem]

1. They are continuing to build one apartheid state.

Talk about a non-existent "peace process" and a "two state solution" is a lie meant for a foreign audience.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

2. We see no reason not to continue colonialism.

[delrem]

3. One hopeful sign, though

Is that "King_David" has just stated to me that he agrees with the Obama administration that the continuous settlement building is *illegitimate*. So regarding this very important point, at any rate, there is agreement with the pro-Palestinian position.

I know that doesn't go far, but in agreeing that settlement building is not legitimate the difference of opinions re. this issue resolve down to one of tactics, of how to go about stopping Israel from continuing down this illegitimate path (a path that is, indeed, contradictory to Geneva). It's ridiculous to hope that he'll join BDS. heh. But perhaps King_David and the other Zionists in this group can agree to write a letter to Netanyahu or maybe send an open letter to ynet explaining the Zionist position denouncing the settlements as illegitimate, and urging him to do the right thing and dismantle the settlements, put an end to the partitioned Israeli-only roads, allow the Palestinians to once again have free access to their water, and so on. That'd be a step in the right direction.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

4. Do you have a link to that? Thanks.

[delrem]

5. Yes, I do.

(edited to ad url to site giving some official US views)

It's in a subthread started when King_David responds to shira's OP
"The ugly face of Swedish anti-Semitism"
King_David, in a typical move for his kind responds
"I guess Malmo’s mayor is the same as a few posters here in IP on DU
Not antisemitic at all.. Just antiZionist .."
I responded to KD with:
"Malmo's mayor is at best a deluded hypocrite.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1134&pid=35693

By that I mean at best someone who doesn't understand his hypocrisy.
But what "few posters here in IP on DU" do you mean, ...."
going on to further explain my view in three paragraphs.

I explain that though I've heard tell about a "left-Zionism" from some few contributors in I/P (by this I meant e.g. LeftishBrit, tho' I mentioned no names) that just may offer some solution to the mess.

This is where King_David takes off with it, to justify/explain his opinions in effect claiming to speak for the Democratic Party.

Make of it what you will, but I don't dishonor King_David by not holding him to his exact word. After all, this was all in defense of his slander against me and other pro-Palestinians contributing to I/P.

A site which quotes B. Obama, H. Clinton, S. Rice is:
http://www.cmep.org/content/us-statements-israeli-settlements_short

[azurnoir]

6. well of course because exactly who will stop them?

the UNSC?

[Jefferson23]

7. He sees no reason to change it, and he would be correct...this is part of the plan.

Looks like it's going just fine.